Cpl Steven Bultje

New Braunfels, TX

Mission Accomplished on June 8, 2018

Marine Corporal Steven Bultje joined the military shortly after high school, inspired by a sense of duty to his country.

In 2011, Cpl Bultje deployed on his second tour to Afghanistan serving as an Infantry Assaultman with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. On March 5, 2011, while returning from a patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated beneath Cpl Bultje. The blast shattered his right foot and ankle, and caused severe damage to his right knee as well.

Once back in the United States, Steven was treated at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia, where he met his wife, Angela, a Navy Corpsman. After two years of surgeries, doctors eventually amputated his right foot.

Now medically retired, Steven is planning on staying at home with their two kids, Kyle and Avery. Steven earned a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning in December of 2016, and is completing training to be a dental hygenist. Angela graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration in April 2017 to complement her experience as a Hospital Corpsman while in the Navy.

Steven and Angela love spending time with their children outdoors. Steven has recently become more involved with adaptive sports and spends much of his child-free time golfing, woodworking, and reading.

The physical restrictions in Steven’s previous home took a toll on his parenting. His wheelchair did not fit through narrow doorways or hallways, so getting up in the middle of the night to tend to his children or get a drink was a large task. Additionally, leaving his home was challenging because there were stairs. His single-level specially adapted custom home with wide doorways alleviates these issues. “I am relieved to have a home that is obstacle free, so I can raise my children from my wheelchair,” he says.

Originally from Ohio, Steven chose to build his home in Texas to have better access to healthcare, escape the Midwest winters, and be a part of a strong community of Veterans.

Steven says he and Angela have much respect and admiration for Homes For Our Troops’ donors and sponsors. “It is truly humbling to see just how much the American people support the troops,” he says.